IN a society where more and more people are becoming obese, getting children to change their diets is high on the national priority list.

British children are now some of the fattest in the world. Recognising the need for action, the government introduced a scheme to deliver free fruit and vegetables to primary school pupils in the hope it would help youngsters to slim down.

However, the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) is now under review after an independent study found that it had failed to improve pupils' diets.

The study revealed that the £77 million scheme, launched three years ago, had "no lasting impact" on what children were eating and that when youngsters received free fruit and vegetables at school they were less likely to consume them at home.

But in Worcester, schools said the scheme had proved a success with pupils' health and concentration levels rising since its introduction.

Oldbury Park Primary School, in Oldbury Road, St John's, was one of the first to introduce the free fruit scheme more than three years ago.

"The free fruit and vegetables are only available to Key Stage One pupils, which are those aged four to six," said headteacher Jackie Ludlow. "But we have found that pupils continue to want their fruit as they progress into the higher years and many of our Key Stage Two pupils buy fruit themselves in school, which is very encouraging."

Oldbury Park is moving towards becoming a recognised Healthy Eating School and only allows its pupils to eat fruit and vegetables as a playtime snack.

"We have always emhpasised healthy eating at the school," Miss Ludlow said. "This scheme was a step forward in encouraging more children to eat fruit and veg and I would say that, in my experience, it has worked and has been successful."

Experts from the National Foundation for Educational Research and the University of Leeds have been monitoring the free scheme since its introduction in 2004. The research measured changes in children's consumption, nutrient intake and attitude to healthy food in one area in England before and after they became involved in the scheme.

It found that, on average, pupils ate 3.73 portions of fruit and vegetables while on the scheme - just 0.37 of a portion more than before the scheme was launched. The experts also found that just 27 per cent of pupils on the scheme achieved the target of five portions a day and only a third of children were aware of the five-a-day recommendation.

Valerie Holland, headteacher at Cranham Primary School in Tetbury Drive, Warndon, said, however, that the scheme had had a marked impact on children.

"We have seen a big difference in the behaviour of children and their concentration," she said.

"It has given children a chance to try new fruits and has allowed us to say no chocolate at break times, which seems to have gone down very well. I would certainly not say it has failed, quite the opposite."

Alex Wall, headteacher at Fairfield Community Primary in Fairfield Close, Worcester, said all children at the school enjoyed fruit and the school was looking to expand the scheme.

"It has been a big success at the school and we find children are coming up and asking us for fruit," he said.

"I think this scheme has had a huge impact."

Even children themselves say the scheme has been working and many continue to choose to eat fruit rather than crisps or chocolate.

Six-year-olds Lucy Stokes, Max Done and Toby Elston, Key Stage Two pupils at Oldbury Park Primary School, all eat at least four pieces of fruit or vegetables a day.

"Fruit is much more healthy and it's really nice," said Lucy. "My favourite is strawberries." Max and Toby added: "We like it better than crisps."

Whatever the outcome of the review, it is clear that by giving children the opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables is a huge step to weaning them off junk food such as crisps or chocolate.